UML student facing assault charge

LOWELL -- A 20-year-old UMass Lowell student is facing an assault charge after he allegedly punched a woman in the face when she gave him love slaps as part of "play fighting" while he tried to sleep.

In Lowell District Court, Andrew Hardesty, of 27 Mitchell St., Randolph, was released on personal recognizance after pleading not guilty to one count of domestic assault and battery.

According to court documents, the 19-year-old victim told police she, Hardesty, her sister and her sister's boyfriend were watching television on Tuesday. Hardesty and the victim were on one bed and the sister and her boyfriend were on the other bed.

The victim told police that during the movie she and Hardesty were "play fighting" by slapping each other, something they do often, court records state.

Hardesty fell asleep, so the victim slapped his face, documents state. She demonstrated this by tapping her own cheek. The victim said she slapped him a few times, then he punched her in the face and tried to go to sleep.

Hardesty was told to leave, while the victim went to the resident-assistant's room to call police. Before police arrived, the victim said she received a text message from Hardesty apologizing.

When police spoke to Hardesty, he allegedly admitted he had six vodka shots that night and rambled incoherently, reports state. Hardesty told police he was laying on the bed when the victim slapped him four times on the face with the slaps getting progressively harder.

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Hardesty allegedly admitted he hit her on the chin, but then sent her a text message to apologize.

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